Fatal RockNess Coach Crash Puts Road Safety Back In Spotlight

Specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have called for a full, thorough and prompt investigation following a devastating Highlands bus crash which led to the deaths of two people.

A collision occurred between a bus and another vehicle between the A889 and B9150 junctions on the A9 on Friday (June 8th). Many of those on board the bus were travelling from Edinburgh to the RockNess festival near Inverness.

Two men, 38-year-old Mark McFarlane and 28-year-old Barry Murray died in the incident, while the female driver of the coach was airlifted to hospital. Passengers from treated at the scene while some were then taken to Raigmore Hospital for further examination.

Elaine Russell, Head of Personal Injury Law in Irwin Mitchell’s Glasgow office, said: “This is clearly a dreadful tragedy and our thoughts are with the victims and their families at this most difficult time.

“Many of those touched by this incident will be asking what caused the collision and whether it could have been avoided. It is too early to know what happened although there has been some criticism of the safety of the road itself.

“It is vitally important that the police undertake a thorough investigation into the cause or causes of this fatal crash. This needs to be done carefully but without delay so that the victims of the crash can understand what happened and so that any lessons can be learned as soon as possible to avoid the repeat of another incident like this one.”

Irwin Mitchell has vast experience in helping victims and the families of those killed and injured in many bus and coach crashes in the UK and around the world. The firm are currently acting for more than 20 passengers from the Alvechurch Middle school near Birmingham who were left seriously injured following a coach crash on the A26 near Rheims in France as recently as February 2012.

The firm has also successfully represented hundreds of other victims of coach crashes including the platinum-selling US rock band Alien Ant Farm and their road crew, following the crash of their tour bus in Spain. Several of the band and crew were seriously injured and lead singer Dryden Mitchell tragically broke his neck in the incident.

Clive Garner from Irwin Mitchell, who has acted for hundreds of victims from more than 20 separate bus and coach crashes, added: “We have been calling for improvements in coach safety for many years.

“This includes ensuring that the safest routes are selected and that drivers are fully trained, supported and supervised. At the same time buses and coaches clearly need to be maintained to the highest possible standards of mechanical safety.

“A thorough investigation is clearly needed in relation to this incident, to clear up the many questions that remain about how the collision occurred, whether any of these factors played a part and whether there was any driver error on the part of the driver of either of the two vehicles involved.

“The human cost of an incident like this is immeasurable. Over the next weeks and months answers will emerge which should help victims and their families secure the justice that they deserve.”